Car-roof construction.



WILLIAM E. FOWLER, 1a., & WILLIAM E. FOWLER, SR..

CAR ROOF CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8. I913.

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WILLIAM E. FOWLER, 1a., & WILLIAM E. FOWLER SII.

CAR ROOF CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED 050. I8. I913.

Patented Apr. 6, 191$ 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- entrain snares rarrnn r WILLIAM E. FOWLER, 5E", 0F HAIMMOND, INDIANA, AND XVILLEAM E. FOWLER, SE7, 0 L05 dNGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CARJFJOOF CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that We, "WILLIAM E. FOWLER, J r., and VVILLiAM E. FOWLER, Sn, citizens of the United States, and residing at Hamni'ond, county of Lake, and State of Indiana, and at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Roof Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates in general to car roof construction, and has reference more particularly to roots for use in connection with railway freight cars.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of car roof members, in such correlation as to effectually resist end shock and torsional stresses to Which a car is subjected under service conditions. Another object contemplated by our invention is the provision in a car roof construction ofim- "provedineans adapted to adequately support roofing sheets, together With means cooperating-therewith to retain the sheet inposition on-the supporting means, and in such a manner as to prevent any possibility of binding and consequent fracture of the plates.

A further object is the provision of a channeled carline member adapted to conduct any leakage past the roof sheets away from the car, and Which is conformed so as to have a portion of its Web disposed angularly to the neutral axisof the carline and extending between planes below and above that of its roof sheet supporting portions, the said web -portion continuing substantially throughout the length of the carline lorthe purpose of acting as a reinforcement against flexure, and further providing an e octive means for receiving the roof sheet retaining member in fixed relation.

i A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement of roof sheet supporting and retaining members, wherein all fastenings therebetween and open to the Weather have their axes disposed in a horizontal plane and above the plane of the sheets, and furthermore Where,

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Apr, c, Tut B1 15,

Serial No. 507,373.

car roof, whereby the roof is rendered positively water tight Without unnecessarily binding the sheets, and whereby certain other advantages are attained as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The foregoing, together with such other objects as may hereafter appear,.or are in cident to our invention, We obtain by means of a construction, which is illustrated in preferred form. in the accompanying drawings, \Vl1I'lI1Z-,

Figure 1 represents a partial plan view of a car roof embodying features of our improvements.

Figure 2, a transverse section through Figure 1 on the line ill-H.

Figure 3, embodies a partial side elevation of the roof at the cave andsectional views taken longitudinally through the roof at the siding and on a line through one of the purlins.

Figures a and 5 are enlarged detail sectional views on the line IV IV and V-V of Figure 1, respectively, illustrating the relation of the various parts at the eaves.

Figures 6 and 7 are sections taken on the lines VIVI and VII-VII of Figure 1, respectively, enlarging upon and detailing the showing made at the right of Figure 3.

Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views taken at the ridge along the lines VlIL-VIH and IX-JX. of Figure 1, respectively! Figures 10 and 11 are fragmentary views in perspective, of the parts at the cave and ridge respectively, certain of the members being partly broken away, removed or dis associated, to fully illustrate the relation of the other members.

y In carrying out our invention, Weprovide a series of metal carlines extending transversely from eave to ea :e of the car, and preferably arched in the manner shown in the drawings in order to provide increased headroom inthe car, and to give the re quired slope to the roof. The carlines, which severally are indicated at A, are disposed at intervals along the roof and are braced longitudinally by purlins, l3, and ridge members C, and have their ends supported at the eaves by the side plates D, carried exteriorly of'the car siding E.

The conformation of the carline A is perhaps best illustrated in the sectional views in Figures 6 and 7 and may, if desired, be readily made from commercial shaped iron of channel section. The carline has the marginal upper portion of both its side flanges bent outwardly to constitute the sup porting members or Seats 12, which are provided to carry the lade edges of the roof plates 13. The central portion of the web is bent and folded upon itself to form the longitudinal stiffening member or rib 14, which acts as a reinforcement against flexure of the carline. This member 14: occupies a vertical position intermediate the side members 12, in the trough of the carline, and

extends upwardly in a vertical plane past the roof plates l3 from a horizontal plane below that of the side members 12, whereby to receive the cap member 16, which is more fully described hereinafter.

Fronran inspection of Figure 7 it will be seen that the carline seats 12 support adjacent roof sheets 13 on a line adjacent to 'but somewhat removed from their side edges, which latter extend to overhang the trough 15, located at eachside of the centrally disposed member 14, and terminate in close proximity to, but at a point short of the member 11 in order to provide a clearance for the desired play of: the sheets.

To retain the side edges of the sheets 13 in position on their seats 12, a U-shaped cap 16 is fitted over that portion 1 1 of the carline member 14 which projects above the sheets, having side flanges 16 which terminally bear upon the side edges of adjacent sheets 13 tocover in the joint. Fastening elements are provided to pass horizontally through the cap and carline portions 14 to rigidly unite them. It will be noted that the said side flanges 16, while effectually acting to retain the sheets in position on the seats 12, bear upon that portion of each of the side edges which overhangs the troughs 15, so that there is no bir'ling of the sheets between the cap flanges and the supporting flanges 12 of the carline. This arrangement cooperates with the clearance at the side ends of the sheets to provide sufiicient play room for the sheets between carlines, and in a manner which is designed to overcome any possibility of their fracture.

Extending longitudinally between adjacent carlines and at intervals between the eaveand ridge are the purlins B which constitute bracing members for the carlines, and aid in supporting the roof plates. The purlins, which may be an angle, a channel, or any rolled section, has its ends 17 bent to fit under the carline and fastened thereto by the rivets 17*, as in the manner clearly shown in Figure 7.

Similarly, the ridge members C are interposed between the carlines at the apex of the roof, each comprising an upstanding folded web portion 18 having its ends abutting the sides of the upper portions of adj a cent carlines. Side flanges 19 are provided on the central web portion 18 to receive and support the upper edges of the 'roof sheets 18, and are carried in a depressed portion 12 formed in the carline side flange 12, to bring roof supporting surfaces in the same plane. Each of the'side flange end portions 19 are separated in from the central portion 18 and are bent down into the trough 15 for purposes of attaclnncnt to the base portion 1 1 of the carline, as more clearly shown in Figure 11.

' A U-shaped ridge cap 20 is also fitted over this central portion 18 of the ridge, having side flanges 20 for retaining the upper edges of the adjacent roof sheets in position on the ridge flange 19, the said cap being fastened to the ridge member 18 in a mannor similar to that of the cap 16 with respect to the carline.

Extending longitudinally of the car roof and disposed over intersecting points of carlines and ridge sections is the running board 1 removably carried on the horizontal leg of the angle irons 29 which run substantially lengthwise of the roof and partly above the carline, the web of its vertical leg being cut and bent at proper intervals to form the running board legs 29 which are attached to the carline stiffening member 1 1 by suitable horizonta ly disposed fastenings. In this way the running board is firmly and wholly supported in an effective manner by the stiffened carline, and wherein no portion of the weight of the running board bears upon or is transmitted to the roof sheets to inter ere with the desired play of the latter relat/ive' to the fix dmembers of the roof.

Referring nowmore particularly to Figures 1, 5 and 10, ,i vhich illustrate the relation of the parts of the eave,-it will be noted that the base portion 14-of the cal-line termini/lly rests upon and is secured by rivets 21 t the upper leg 21 of the side plates D, but terminates short f the outer edge thereof. Disposed betv. ee; adj acentcarlines and upon the leg 2 1 a tapered 'filler block 22, which, liliewise, ilg not continued out to the edge of the sii de plates.

The block tapers i the vertica direction toward the side of] sheet in position on its supports, we provide between adjacent carlines an eaves cap or plate, indicated at L whose lower portion is securely attached to the vertical web 2% of the side plates ill, and whose upper marginal edge 2.: is bent down upon the lower edge of the sheet to hold it. l'he metal web of the eaves (1:11) 2 is (.lepressed inwardly along a line adjacent its upper end to form a longitudinal slotted portion or recess 26, whose lower wall rests upon the unoccupied edge portion oi the horizontal side plate flange 21.

it will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 10 that the marginalloweredgcof the plate 13 projects slightlyover its supports at the caves and into the inner shouldered portion 26 of the eaves cap, which portion to gel'her with the vertical wall of the outer recess provides a series of broken joints at the junction of the root plate and its supports with a view to the prevention ol lealiage at this point. The filler block 22 and eaves cap :23 are fastened together by the through bolt 27 whose head 2? is received in the slot to lock it, the smaller tapered edge of the block being presented to the cap.

One of the features of our invention is the provision o'fineans at the caves to afford an avenue of escape for water which may possibly seep into the trough 1" past the edges of the sheets, and with this in view the vertical edges of adjacent eaves caps do not meet at carline terminals, but are slightly spaced away so that any water in the troughs may readily drain over the side of the car. Extending over to cover the spacebetwcen eaves caps is a car-line hood 28, preferably attached to the fascia by means of the same fastening means provided for the eaves caps, and having an angular-1y disposed member 28 integrally formed therewith and projecting inwardly in such a manner as to be received within the carline cap 16, to which it is attached, the end portion of the ear-line web I l being cut away to accommodate and seat this member 28 in an abutting relation.

The main body portion of the hood 28 thus covers in the space between the eaves caps and protects the otherwise open ends of the troughs 15, and further aids in conducting oil" water discharging from the troughs, by providing in efl'cct, a closed rer t'cal channel leading away from the junction of root and car side to a point distant therefrom.

In Figure 10, the carline hood 28 is dis associated from the eaves cap 23, and the carline cap is shown partly broken away, to betterillustrate the relation and cooperati on of the parts at the eaves.

The advantages of the entire consrtuction will be readily apparent from the foregoing, in that all the members combine in attaining a car roof which is strongly reinforced and l a ed to withstand the hard usage incident to service conditions; together with the provision of a roof which is watertight and of a character that will permit a certain amount of play of the sheets to avoid any possibility of fracture thereof, The Z-bar shaped side plates is preferred at the caves in view of its inherent strength, and also in view of the fact that its lower horizontal leg may readily and conveniently be used as a track for the usual car door hangers, although an angle iron,'o.' any similar member, may be used if desired. It will further be noted that all fastenings"between roof supporting members are disposed below the plane of the root sheets, and are covered in.

Another feature of our invention is an arrangemei'it of roof supporting and retaining members which permits the ready removal of a sheet side-Wise of the car, and

"nithout'in any way disturbing the fastenmgs between the said members. I

We do not intend to restrict ourselves to the exact arrangement of the parts, nor to the precise details of construction as shown, for it is therefrom Without in any Way departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The peculiar conformation of our carline lends itself to the application thereto of roofing sheets continuous from one side plate to the other, in which case the cerlines may conform substantially to the are of a circle, and the ridge sections eliminated.

From the foregoing, the essential features and elements of the construction, together with the simplicity and other advantages thereof, will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described-our invention and illustrated its use, whatwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

l. in a car roof, the combination of a carline having a water conducting channel and. a horizontal roof sheet supporting member disposed in a plane above the base of the channel and below the top line of the carline, and a purlin having its end engaging the said supporting member and .bent under the base of the channel for attachment to the cal-line.

2. In a car roof, the combination of a roof sheet, means for supporting the bottom edge of the sheet coniprising a wedge shaped member suitably carried at; the cave, a flanged eaves cap for retaining the said bottom edge on its support, and a connection between the eaves cap and ,the wedge shaped member.

3. In a car roof, the combination of a carline terminally carried by the side of theicar obvious that variations may be made I mounted in spaced relation against the car side and extending upwardly to partially inclose the end of the channel, and a hood member straddling the spaced eaves caps and cooperating therewith to provide a covered passage for water discharging from the carline channel.

. a. In a car roof, the combination of a metal carline provided with a water conducting channel, and a metal ridge section for the carline comprising a central web port on and a roof sheet supporting flange, the saidfiange having its end portion adjacent the carline separated in from the web and bent down into the channel for attach ent to the carline.

v 5. In a car roof, the combination of a metal carline having a water conducting channel for discharging water over the side of the car, a carline cap, a hood member mounted adjacent the end of the channel and having an inwardly projecting portion thereof abutting the carline and received within the end of the carline cap.

6. In a car roof, the combination of a roof sheet, means at the side of the car for supporting the bottom edge of the sheet, and a metal eaves cap mounted on the side of the car for retaining the said edge on its support, and a connection between the caves and the said support, the former having a recess formed in its web to lock with the said connection and providin a series of broken joints at the junction 0% the sheet and the side of the-car.

7. In combination, a carlin'e provided.

- jacent the end of the channel spaced away 'her received in a cut-away portion of the fr om each other, a carline hood coverin the space between the caps and the end 0 the channel, the hood having a projecting memcarline, and a cap for the carline and the projecting member of the hood.

8. The combination in a car roof, of a roof sheet, means for supporting the bottom edge of the sheet comprising a member suitably carried at the eave, a flanged eaves cap havin end recess in which the bottom edge of the sheet is received and held, and a connection between the said depressed portion and the supporting member.

9. In a .car roof, the combination roof sheet, of a means suitably located at the eaveto support the sheet along a line adjacent to its bottom edge, means for rea portion thereof adjacent its upper taining the said edge on its support comprismg an eaves cap conformed to have su erposed and oppositely opening recesses a jaepressed to ,form with the flange a v with a located with reference to said carline so that no portion of the run board bears upon sheets composed within the roof.,

11. In a car roof, the combination ofan outside roof sheet, a roof-sheet-supporting means comprising a carline having a verti- Cally extending rib and a side flange constituting a seat for engaging and supporting the sheet along a line adjacent to butire- I moved from its marginal edge, the latter extending beyond the seat toward the side of the rib, and sheet-retaining means comprising a carline cap fixedly embracing side portions of said rib and having a closure flange extending outwardly from said rib and disposed and arranged with reference to said seat to bear easily upon and loosely engage the extended marginal edge of the sheet whereby to permit limited play of the sheet between the seat and said closure flange, substantially as described.

12. In a car roof, the combination with a plurality of roof sheets, of a carline therefor composed of a single member provided with a longitudinal central rib having base portions and vertical side flanges constituting water conducting channels and over which adjacent marginal side edges of the sheet extend to project, said vertical side flanges being bent outwardly to provide substantially horizontal side seats adapted to engage the sheets adjacent their side edges, a carline cap having its body portion embracin the sides of the rib and provided with sic e closure flanges arranged with reference to the seats to bear upon and loosely engage the projecting marginal edges of the sheets, and a horizontally disposed fastening connecting the cap andrib,'substantial1y as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a car roof, the combination with a roof sheet, of a carline having a vertically extending rib and a side flange constituting a seat for supporting the sheet adjacent its .sidevmarginal edge, there being a clearance between the said side edge and the side of the rib, and sheet retaining means comprising a member rigidly engaging the bottom edge of the sheet to normally hold the edge of thesheet away from the sideof the rib and a ca'rhne cap embracing side portions-of said and having a closuye flange disweem? posed with reference to said seat to beer easily upon and loosely engage the marginal edge of the sheet and to one side of its line of support, all constructed and arranged so as to permit limited relative play of the sheet within the clearance when the carline is subjected to stress.

1%. In a car roof, the combination of a cm'line having a water conducting chamel and a seat, and e ridgemember having a central rib portion m abutting relation witli the cerline and a side flange bent down over the seat into the channel, said seat having a portion thereof fiepressed to receive the said side flange. In testimony whereof We hzwe hereunto set our nomes in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM FOWLER, JR. Witnesses:

VJ. HERBERT FowKEs,

M. M. M00102.

WILLIAM E. FOWLER SR. Witnesses:

RUTH Fowmm, M. L. Fowme. 

